COURSE CARE

Here Today
February 27, 2015

Here Today

By Derf Soller, Agronomist
April 8, 2009

Budget reductions are here, and likely to stay for awhile.
So now is the time to begin an honest course evaluation and
golfer education campaign communicating that playability of the
golf course is what it's all about. During the past month of
USGA conferences in our region, as well as those in many of the
other parts of the country, we have discussed critical reviews
of how to review budgets.
Cost savings
versus
cost reductions
has been the core of many of the presentations given by USGA
agronomists. This activity will continue.

The Green Section staff also will continue to be available
and in a position to share with you the numerous budget
awareness ideas and things we see collectively through our Turf
Advisory Service (TAS) program.

In the Northwest Region, USGA Regional Conferences were
offered this year in Cody, WY; Lakewood, CO, and Tacoma, WA.
Issues concerning budgets and how to identify and prioritize
spending were a central topic. An accompanying theme
highlighted the importance of concentrating on course
playability instead of focusing heavily, (time and resources)
on the visual and aesthetic aspects of turf maintenance. Water
use responsibility and its management importance also were part
of the cost discussions.

Turf wise, with the vastness of the region, many conditions
are being observed. The Rocky Mountain lower elevation areas
finally received a decent snowfall. Extremely dry conditions
have been the norm, so this is a timely accumulation of
moisture. Cooler and more wet conditions in the Pacific
Northwest should be a reason to postpone the spring aeration of
greens until warmer weather arrives. Don't let the calendar
dictate the date for aeration! Warmer temperatures assure a
quicker healing time for the greens and cause the least
disruption time for all players.

Please review other regional updates to keep abreast of the
timely topics, some similar to those at your golf course, and
also possibly different issues facing golf facilities in other
parts of the country. Updates for all of the USGA regions can
be found at:
http://www.usga.org/turf/regional_updates/regional_updates.html

The USGA Northwest Region is available for TAS visits as
well as speaking to members or players to help educate about
the challenges of golf course maintenance. Contact Larry
Gilhuly, director, (
lgilhuly@usga.org
) or Derf Soller, agronomist (
dsoller@usga.org
) for more information or to schedule a visit. Wendy
Schwertfeger, administrative assistant, may also be reached
for information at: 208.732.0280 or at
wendys@usga.org
.

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